How to prevent vision loss from diabetes

Taking care of your vision is important at any age. But it’s even more important for people living with diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause blurred vision or lead to vision loss.

Here’s how to keep your eyes healthy.

The retina is the light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye. It receives the images that form in our brain.

If your blood sugar levels are too high – usually at a level of 6.5% HbAC1 or above – the blood vessels in the retina can be damaged. In our eyes, the retina suffers the most from the negative effects of diabetes.

This is what specialists call diabetic retinopathy.

According to Diabetes Canada, the people most at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy are:

• People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes with poor diabetes management
• Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes
• People with high blood pressure
• People with high cholesterol levels
• Smokers

At first, diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms. As the disease progresses, these vision problems may appear:

• Blurred vision
• Black or floating spots in the field of vision
• Clouded vision
• Vision loss in the dark
• Eye pain

To avoid serious consequences, the disease must be detected as early as possible. One in three untreated sufferers develops significant vision loss within three years of the onset of symptoms.

Periodic examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist are all that’s needed. These exams are effective, inexpensive – and important.

Yet 50% of people with diabetes don’t follow up. Talk to your doctor. These examinations can detect retinopathy, as well as other vision problems.

If you notice a decline in your eyesight, opt for a comprehensive eye exam. Ideally, this exam should include:

• A visual acuity test
• An examination of the retina using an ophthalmoscope
• A photograph of the retina

You can also ask an eye care professional how often they recommend having your eyes examined.

An eye-care plan you establish with your doctor can help you avoid vision problems.

1. Manage your blood sugar levels. This is by far the most important way to prevent retinopathy from progressing and improve your vision.

2. Manage your blood pressure.

If the disease worsens, various treatments are available:

• Medication injected into the eye: This helps slow the growth of damaged blood vessels.
• Laser surgery: This slows or stops the wear and tear of blood vessels in the eye.
• Micro-incision surgery: This removes blood from the middle of the eye and retina.

According to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, diabetes can cause vision problems other than retinopathy:

• Cataracts: The lens in the eye becomes opaque and lets less light through.
• Glaucoma: The optic nerve loses its effectiveness.
• Diabetic macular edema: The macula, the central area of the retina, swells.

If these problems are detected and treated early, it’s possible to avoid or reverse 75% of vision loss. Your eyes will thank you.